It is no secret that the past year has been one of the most, if not THE most, difficult times for businesses to operate in. The announcement of the latest lockdown has meant many businesses have yet again had to close their doors. However, with the vaccination programme being rolled out across the country and spring somewhere on the horizon can we dare to be optimistic about what the future holds?

On Tuesday 9th February, Wakefield College will be hosting The Virtual Wakefield College Employer Event to inform employers of what support is available. Key staff from the College will discuss the training options available, as well as new incentives and funding on offer. College staff will be joined by employers, who already work with the College, discussing their experiences and how it has positively affected their businesses.

If you own a business, then you know first-hand that business never stops no matter what. Behind the scenes, there is always something happening. Many businesses have discovered new ways of working and are providing their services or selling their products in a remote, virtual, or distanced way. They have adapted and risen to the challenges they have faced.

One of the challenges many businesses face is skills shortages. The local economy and industries need skilled workers. Lockdown or not, if you want your business to survive it needs the best workforce you can get.

Joanne Taylor, Executive Director of Employer Engagement and Apprenticeships stated “Here at Wakefield College, we have a long history of providing high-quality training for employers who wish to actively improve their workforce and future business prospects, working with companies such as Burberry, Next, Coca-Cola, Haribo, and many more. Our enviable links with employers mean our training opportunities are current and up to date with the rapidly changing business landscape.”

David White, Head of Employer Engagement at Wakefield College added “We work with local employers to identify the skills they need to grow their business and advise them as to what sort of training might be most beneficial for their business. We can also help them access any funding available and inform them of current government incentives in place which they could take advantage of.”

We will aim to show how even in these unprecedented times, alongside partner employers we have adapted and found new ways of working, showing that even now we can still provide high-quality training for those who want it.

One employer joining us to talk about their experience is Stada Media. Danny Lacey, CEO of Stada Media said “The pandemic has meant most businesses have had to change the way they work in order to survive. We’re no different, but we’ve been able to help businesses moving online, too. We were delighted to support Wakefield College media students in 2020, providing their very first virtual work placement.”

If you would like to join, please visit www.wakefield.ac.uk/events to sign up, the event will be held on Zoom and you will receive a link before the event. There will be a Q&A at the end when attendees can ask any questions they may have.

Now is the time to set the groundwork for your business’ future!